A musical based on the novel by J.B. Priestley. Music by Andre Previn, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer, Libretto by Ronald Harwood. Directed by David Taylor
Performance dates and times :
Wednesday 10 – Saturday 13 March and Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 March at 7.30pm.
Matinées on Saturdays 13 and 20 March at 3pm.
To be performed at the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington.
Audition dates and times :
Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December from 7pm at the Tower Theatre.
Possible recalls on Sunday 6 December.
We are happy for actors of all backgrounds to apply for any role.
Auditions will consist of a simple group dance which will be taught at the audition and select
pages from the script (available on request). Please bring a number from a musical show that suits
your singing voice.
Auditions are for Tower Theatre Company Members only.
Please note that you cannot audition for any show if you have not passed a company audition. If you would like to join the Company, please contact our membership/auditions secretary Stephen Brasher here for more information.
If you’d like to audition, please contact the director, David Taylor, at [email protected]. Also contact David if you need more information or have any questions about the show,
About the show
This musical version of the famous 1929 novel was staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1974 and
starred Judi Dench, John Mills, Marti Webb and Christopher Gable. It ran for 252 performances. In
spite of its high profile creative team it was considered “too English” to transfer to Broadway but it
is long overdue for a revival and the intimate scale of the Tower Theatre will suit the piece very
well. It tells the intertwined stories of a disparate trio of people who come to the rescue of a
travelling variety troupe. It is a heart-warming tale of theatre folk pulling together and following
their dreams of success in 1930’s England.
A cast of singing actors is required who are not afraid of performing “variety style” numbers.
Actors who also play a musical instrument will be especially welcome.
Cast
JESS OAKROYD – a man in his 50s/60s. A craftsman and handyman travelling from Yorkshire.
MISS TRANT – playing age 30s/40s. A lady of means travelling from the Cotswolds.
INIGO JOLLIFANT – a man in his 20s. A teacher, composer and piano player travelling from East
Anglia.
SUSIE DEAN – playing age 20s. The rising star of the troupe.
JERRY JERNINGHAM – playing age 20s/30s. The song and dance man of the troupe.
MORTON MITCHAM – playing age 50s. A larger than life traveller/raconteur with a banjo.
MR AND MRS JOE BRUNDIT – playing age 40s/50s. The singing double act of the troupe.
JIMMY NUNN – playing age 30s/40s. The comedian of the troupe
ELSIE LONGSTAFFE – playing age 30s. An singer/actress.
MISS THONG – playing age 50s. The wardrobe mistress.
Many different character parts include a variety of ages and types which will be doubled/trebled;-
CHARLES, LEONARD OAKROYD, SAM OGLETHORPE, MRS OAKROYD, HUGH MCFARLANE,
MR AND MRS TARVIN, MISS CALLENDER, THEATRE MANAGER, LADY PARFITT, MILBRAU,
MONTE MORTIMER, ETHEL GEORGIA, FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS, VARIETY TROUPE
PERFORMERS.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will start on Sunday 3 January and continue on two weekday evenings and a Sunday
daytime rehearsal each week building to four nights a week from 22 February.
All cast are required for the get-in and technical rehearsals on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 March, and for the dress rehearsal on Tuesday 9 March.
 David Taylor‘s early years were spent tinkering with model theatres and doing school plays but his first directing job for the Tower Theatre (as a very young man) was The Boy Friend in 1975. Since then he has directed and designed and occasionally acted in a wide range of shows. Favourite plays include Pygmalion, Nicholas Nickleby, My Night With Reg, As You Like It and Lark Rise, and favourite musicals include Mr Cinders, West Side Story, On The Town, Blitz, Valmouth, Sail Away, Guys and Dolls, Pal Joey and The Producers. which won the Minack Theatre trophy for the best production of the season in 2014. In 2016, he led the Tower’s team in their co-production with the RSC of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – A Play for the Nation, which was presented at the Barbican Theatre in London and the RSC theatre in Stratford. His most recent production (in 2025) was Shakespeare in Love. |
Musical Director : Jonathan Norris
Choreographer : Rachel Berg
Lighting Design : Stephen Ley
Costume Design : Kathleen Morrison and Jackie Robinson